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Meet Allison Nichols
Randolph’s close-knit community, academic focus, and athletic talent attract Lynchburg native
standout on the court in
A high school and college,
Allison Nichols has always enjoyed
basketball. But early on, she knew
her favorite place wasn’t on the
court—it was on the sidelines.
“I’ve always loved playing,” said
the WildCat’s new women’s head
basketball coach. “But deep down,
I really just wanted to coach.”
Nichols took over the reins of
the team in May, following Melissa
Wiggins, who coached the WildCats
for 12 seasons.
The move to Lynchburg was a
homecoming for Nichols, who grew
up in nearby Campbell County.
Nichols is familiar with the Old
Dominion Athletic Conference;
while earning her undergraduate
degree at Bridgewater College in
Bridgewater, Virginia, she was part of
a team that won two regular season
conference titles. After graduation,
Nichols traveled to Augusta State
University in Augusta, Georgia,
where, in addition to earning a
master’s in kinesiology and health
science, she began her coaching
career as the assistant women’s
basketball coach.
Nichols helped lead the Lady
Jaguars to a top three finish in
the South Atlantic region, a Peach
Belt Conference regular season
co-championship, and an NCAA
Tournament berth. In 2008, she
joined East Carolina University’s
women’s basketball program as
director of basketball operations.
The move to Randolph College
was a chance for Nichols to return
to Division III. “This is where I
belong,” she said. “I believe that
part of my job is to help my players
meet their goals off the court. That
means if they tell me they want to
make the Dean’s List or become a
teacher, it’s my responsibility to
help them do that.”
“What is most important
to me is that we are building
and improving and putting
a better product out there
with every game. Winning
or losing aside, I want
Randolph to have an
exciting brand of women’s
basketball.”
Allison Nichols
Women’s Head Basketball Coach
Tina Hill, Randolph College’s
athletic director, said Nichols’
experience and dedication to
students will be a valuable addition
to the WildCat coaching staff. “She
is a great motivator and will have
high expectations for our students
to excel in the classroom and on the
court,” she said.
The team’s first game is in
November, and Nichols wasted
no time getting started. She met
with returning players in May
when she arrived on campus and
made contact with new players
throughout the summer. She has
already started recruiting efforts
for next year.
“It takes time to build a
winning program,” she said. “What
is most important to me is that
we are building and improving
and putting a better product out
there with every game. Winning or
losing aside, I want Randolph to
have an exciting brand of women’s
basketball.”
She believes the team has what
it takes to do just that. “This is a
great group of players,” Nichols
said. “They take their academics
seriously, and they are willing to
put forth the effort we need to be
successful.”
Nichols hopes her local
connections will help with
recruitment, and she believes
Randolph’s close community is a
selling point in itself.
“There is something unique
about this place,” she said. “To be
able to bring a student on campus
with their parents and be able to
introduce them to the dean or the
president in the Skeller or the
dining hall is amazing. There is
such a family atmosphere here.
People don’t just say ‘hey’ to
someone. They know them and
genuinely care about them. It is
impressive.”
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